July 07, 2013 06:00 AM CDTJuly 05, 2013 01:10 PM CDTSounding Off: What are the best ways to avoid West Nile?

Sounding Off: What are the best ways to avoid West Nile?

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A truck performs ground spraying against the West Nile Virus in Northwest Dallas back in July 2012.

Published: 07 July 2013 06:00 AM

Updated: 05 July 2013 01:10 PM

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What preventative measures do you take or plan to take to avoid contracting West Nile Virus? Are you satisfied with efforts taken thus far to protect residents from the virus?

Larry Tooker, Fairview: We are vigilant to discard any casual water and to keep fresh water in the bird bath. And we assure that there are plenty of minnows and perch in the pond, both of which eat mosquito larvae. And of course use insect repellant when trimming trees/hedges. We are near a pond and running creek, and rarely see or hear a mosquito.

Victoria Chase, McKinney: I use a natural, nontoxic repellent and have not had a mosquito bite in almost 20 years. Some of those years were in a neighborhood where the neighbors would sometimes be covered with bites. I am baffled that people continue to spray themselves, especially children, with poison that does not prevent bites but contributes to lung cancer and other disorders. I am not at all concerned for myself. But I am concerned about others, since I know someone who had the virus and suffers long-term effects.

Jean Durrett, Celina: The first thing I do is make sure there is no standing water on my property. Standing water is a mosquito haven. I spray a solution of half pine sol and half water. Flies are also repelled by this mixture. Spray the mixture around the area you want to protect. Citronella candles and spray also repel mosquitoes. The best way to avoid mosquito bites is to stay inside around sundown when mosquitoes are most active. There are many sprays available for the skin that can be applied before going out. I think the efforts of health departments and cities are adequate to help kill mosquitoes in areas that are infested.

Ron Austin, Allen: Yes, I am satisfied so far with the measures taken by cities and counties. Yet, we must do our individual family part to get rid of breeding sites by emptying stagnant water. We spray our lot with indoor/outdoor-safe insecticide and use DEET-based spray or liquid on exposed skin when outside, early or late. Then, we don’t worry about hypothetical possibilities.

Audrey White of McKinney: We do several things as a preventative measure regarding West Nile Virus. Those include staying away from standing water at all times. In addition, we make a point to avoid any outside activities at dusk or dawn. But most important to me, as a mom to my special-needs son, has always been finding ways to repel all insects with nontoxic substances. I know it is highly recommended by experts to use products with DEET to keep the mosquitoes at a distance. My problem with DEET is it is a known neurotoxin and is the last thing I want to add to the complications of autism. As a result of my concern, we use daily doses of Vitamins B1 and B12, in addition to an Avon product, Bug Guard, which was recommended by a pediatrician years ago because of its nontoxic nature. Each family has to decide what is best for them given their own circumstances.

Ronald Paris, McKinney: We don’t go out very much. I am a diabetic and we have a special-needs son. When we do, we are totally aware of our surroundings. We avoid places with standing water. We don’t want to be around mosquito breeding grounds. We would rather be safe than sorry.

Sallie Henry, Frisco: I bought a Skeeter Screen Patio Egg to help keep mosquitoes and thus, hopefully, West Nile Virus, away. It works on a 200- to 300-square-foot area. We make sure we do not have any standing water and there are no pools close to us, so we don’t have that to worry about. Other than that, I take out the trash well before dusk, which is normally when mosquitoes are out looking for mischief. Hopefully, this will be enough to protect us.

Tony Jack Howard, Lucas: The fatalist in me says, “What can you do about a virus spread by mosquitoes feasting on dead birds? Roll the dice and get on with it!” The alarmist in me says, “Spray yourself with everything you can get your hands on and then wear a hazmat suit!” The pragmatist in me says, “Be cautious but not silly; follow the posted guidelines and enjoy the summer as best you can.”

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